Completed first 200 k brevet- with extended "travelogue"

[goldfinch]

Great report and congratulations!

I can't imagine dealing with 200k.

[azfiddle]

Thank you for the congrats- I really was proud of myself too.

For comparison, my previous longest ride was 111 miles on El Tour de Tucson in November. It took me just over 8 hours, but the "race" atmosphere added a pressure I didn't feel on the brevet. It was okay to just hang out and take a break at the end of the first leg and at the lunch stop. I wonder if that was part of the reason I did not feel as physically stressed afterward?

We did our best to implement a recovery ride today- took it fairly slow and easy up to Saguaro NP, and stayed on the flattish "picnic loop" road, not the main park loop with a steep climb. Overall, my speed was just 12.5 mph, and I think it fulfilled the purpose of "recovery" although I didn't really feel all that sore today.

Goldfinch- for what's worth, I got back into cycling less than 3 years ago and I could not have imagined tackling a ride over 15 miles. It took me 6 months to be able to ride more than 50 miles, and over a year before I broke 70. If it's something you want to do, and you have no physical obstacles to prevent it, I'm sure you can build up to it.

[goldfinch]

Goldfinch- for what's worth, I got back into cycling less than 3 years ago and I could not have imagined tackling a ride over 15 miles. It took me 6 months to be able to ride more than 50 miles, and over a year before I broke 70. If it's something you want to do, and you have no physical obstacles to prevent it, I'm sure you can build up to it.

That has been about my track. I have only been riding since last spring. Long distance appeals to me but I am starting to think one of the biggest issues is dealing psychologically with the long passage of time and what lies ahead.

[azfiddle]

Goldfinch, I've ridden up to about 50 miles alone, but I think having company on a really long ride helps you through the part that is "mental"- like the 2 sections that gave me grief on this ride.

[Desert Tortoise]

Congratulations!!! Another nice feather for your hat. I'd glad your left side didn't give you too much grief. High Five

[Susan Otcenas]

Congratulations on your first 200K!! (Yup, I said "first". Most people come back for more, despite protestations... )

I rode two permanents when I was visiting family in AZ in 2010. The Arivaca 200K and the Mt Lemmon 100K hill climb. Especially on the Arivaca route, there were certainly some soul-sucking long monotonous stretches of scruffy desert and not a whole lot else. But I enjoyed the ride nonetheless, as the scenery was so different than what we get in the Pacific Northwest. I never got tired of looking at the Saguaro.

Don't bump up to the 300K until you are well and truly ready, regardless of what DH does. Riding at night, after a long day in the saddle, is definitely not for everyone. Get in a few more 200Ks first, build your confidence, experiment with some lighting systems on an easy evening ride (will help work out the kinks) ,etc.

And, again, CONGRATS! It's a huge accomplishment to ride a distance like that. You'll never forget your "first time".

Susan

[Tri Girl]

Congrats, AZfiddle! I hope to do one of those one day. The longest I've ever ridden was the 112 miles in both Ironman (Ironmen?) that I've done. I don't know that I *need* to go further, but I sure want to...
Way to go! Now rest up and get ready for the next. Yup- I suspect there will be more...

[Dogmama]

Especially on the Arivaca route, there were certainly some soul-sucking long monotonous stretches of scruffy desert and not a whole lot else.

Susan

Soul sucking - ha! After being in AZ for over 50 years, I can definitely relate to soul sucking routes! Especially in the summer - ugh.

AZFiddle - you're amazing!

[bmccasland]

Yay AzFiddle!! Congratulations on your ride!

Since I used to live in AZ, I can almost imagine the parts of the route. Do know about mind numbing cresote flats (actually a fascinating ancient plant).